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Review content:
Dear Looking for a church #: So much pain. A reading of these reviews reveals a place marred by emotional and spiritual scars. These reviews are not written by a few who are ""deceived,"" but rather by many who have been hurt by their involvement with this place and the associated ""churches"" under the same umbrella. Most are written by former members with firsthand experience. Some are even written by current members who admit that the reviews are accurate and that they are either afraid to leave, don't know how to leave, or both. These reviews contain important information which can serve mutiple purposes: 1) Warning and informing others who may be considering getting involved. 2) Affirmation for those of you who remain and are questioning your involvement that you are not alone in your concerns. 3) Confirmation for those of you who have left that you have done the right thing, and it wasn't just you!\r
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A look at the reviews below reveals several characteristics of cult behavior that is being exhibited. Character Assassination, Exclusivism (my organization is the only one that has the truth), Elitism, Isolation, Deception, Information Control (have you been told not to read these reviews?), Fear, and Relationship Control. Shunning of former members, including family members is taught, encouraged, and expected. It is held up as an example of right behavior. And a great deal goes on behind the scenes to manipulate compliance with this expectation. Also described is the expectation of absolute loyalty to a powerful authority figure. And the list goes on. \r
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How many families are broken? How many have cut ties with parents and grandparents? How many mothers and fathers have cut ties with their children? How many brothers and sisters are disowned? When the majority of families are effected in some way by shunning, what does that say about a place? Thank Y.? Yes, Looking For A Church, the shunning (i.e. ""disfellowship"") is severe. Severe enough for a mother to turn her back on her children simply because they decide to attend a different church or forge their own path, as children do when they become adults.\r
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AdamBainbridge, you are under orders? That is telling. Also, you make the assumption that those who leave Lakeview or the association are ""lost sheep"" or ""astray."" That is a bold assumption. So if someone goes to a different church, they are ""lost"" or ""astray?"" That is also telling.\r
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A piece of information that I haven't seen mentioned is that the founding pastor, a self-proclaimed apostle, and his wife, are known by the followers as ""Dad"" and ""Mom."" \r
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Use these reviews as they should be used...to make an informed decision. Excercise your free will and decide, ""Do I want to visit?"" ""Do I want to stay?"" ""Do I want to leave?"" The choice is yours.\r
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